Loudly Critical Bosses Top a Complaints Survey

Criticizing subordinates in front of other employees is the biggest breach of business etiquette, according to a survey on the subject which questioned some of the country’s top management executives and personnel directors.

Not giving others an opportunity to express themselves ranked next in the survey, and being late for appointments ranked last, Robert Half International, which conceived the poll, said.

Managers from 100 corporations took part in the survey.

Forty-five percent said criticizing subordinates before others and 28% said not allowing employees a chance to express themselves. Fifteen percent cited inappropriate attempts at humor.